Las Vegas Strip mega-hotel Resorts World now open
The first new resort built on The Strip in more than a decade is now open.
Late Thursday evening, the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas welcomed the public inside. The opening of the mega hotel represents a major turning point for a slice of Las Vegas Boulevard battered by the last recession that never quite recovered — until now.
“It took a while to recover from the recession and for Las Vegas to get its groove back,” said Nevada historian Michael Green. “And the spot itself means a great deal.”
Long road to opening
Where Resorts World now stands sat an iconic piece of Las Vegas history: Stardust. Opened in 1958, it was at the time the largest hotel on The Strip.
“The site rings just about every bell you can think of in terms of the history of gaming and resorts in Las Vegas,” said Green, whose father was a Stardust card dealer.
After owner Boyd Gaming imploded Stardust in 2007, the company planned to build a new hotel-casino to replace it. But the recession left the project a dormant skeleton of steel and concrete that stayed dormant for years.
Malaysia-based gaming operator Genting Group bought the property in 2013 for $350 million and got to work on what is now Resorts World.
“There’s always a sense of excitement around here when you have a new property opening,” Green said.
Here’s a look at what guests can expect when they visit the first hotel-casino to open on The Strip in a decade.
Hotel rooms
Resorts World Las Vegas will offer three hotel collections from Hilton — each with its own entrance and lobby.
Las Vegas Hilton will feature 1,774 full-service guest rooms and suites ranging from 400 to 3,300 square feet with “smart, elevated amenities in a comfortable and refined setting.”
Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World will have 1,496 contemporary guest rooms and suites ranging from 550 to 2,800 square feet with upscale amenities and a curated art program.
Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts will have 236 ultra-luxury guest rooms and suites ranging from 550 to 7,000 square feet with “lavish accommodations, upscale amenities and highly personalized service.”
Casino
The casino floor includes 117,000 square feet of slots, table games, a dedicated poker room, high-limit areas and a sportsbook. Guests can earn points for benefits when they dine, shop and play with Genting Rewards, the resort’s loyalty program.
Card players will bet with house chips implanted with sensors at tables that take cashless transactions and track every bet, split, double-down and side wager.
“It’s all RFID,” casino operations chief Rick Hutchins said, referring to radio-frequency identification technology built into the first new Las Vegas resort to open since 2010. “The table knows exactly what I’m betting.”
Cashless technology was retrofitted in recent years at existing properties. It was made part of Resorts World from the start, executives told reporters during a preview tour Tuesday.
Pool and spa
The resort will feature a 5.5-acre pool complex — the largest pool deck in Las Vegas — as well as a 27,000-square-foot spa experience.
Dining
There will be over 40 food and beverage options at Resorts World Las Vegas, ranging from fine dining to quick-service venues and exclusive concepts you won’t find elsewhere on The Strip.
One of the concepts is a street food market that will put on display dishes made with recipes imported straight from Asia’s bustling culinary scene. Famous Foods Street Eats will offer guests a wide selection of authentic cuisines from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and beyond.
Inspired by the hawker-style food centers of Singapore, this 24,000-square-foot hall will have dishes at 16 stalls from top chefs and restaurateurs.
Entertainment
The resort includes a 5,000-capacity concert and entertainment venue designed for concerts, conventions, corporate gatherings and sporting events.
The resort has promised “the next wave of superstar entertainment partners” — including Celine Dion, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood.
Retail
Inside, there will be 70,000 square feet of retail space — two levels of boutique shops and experiential offerings from luxury and lifestyle brands.
Day club, night club
In collaboration with Zouk Group, a lifestyle and entertainment company in Singapore, Resorts World Las Vegas plans to include Zouk Nightclub and AYU Dayclub. A-list DJs Zedd and Tiësto are set to perform.
Guests can explore show dates and get tickets at visit zoukgrouplv.com.
Contributing: Associated Press
Ed Komenda writes about Las Vegas for the Reno Gazette Journal and USA Today Network. Do you care about democracy? Then support local journalism by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal right here.
